ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Henry McKenzie Davis is the son of a Baptist minister from Rockville, Maryland. He began playing the piano at age 4, composed his first song at age 5 and was presented in his first concert at age 6. Mr. Davis received his formal music training from The Cleveland Music Settlement House, Cleveland, Ohio; Montgomery College, Rockville, MD; and Howard University, Washington, D.C.

While attending Howard University, Mr. Davis was a student of the distinguished African-American composer, pianist and organist Professor Thomas Kerr, whose former students include Grammy Award winners Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway and Richard Smallwood. Mr. Davis was a founding member, original pianist and principal composer for the renowned Howard Gospel Choir -- the first African-American gospel choir in the country.

Over the years, Mr. Davis has provided musical support to several ministries. He has served as director, pianist and composer for the Calvary Crusaders of Rockville, Md. Mr. Davis was an original member and pianist for the legendary Voices-Supreme, an all-male trio from Washington, D.C. For over 20 years, Mr. Davis served as personal pianist to Pastor/Evangelist Archie Dennis, Jr. and as crusade pianist/organist to Evangelist Morris Cerullo.

Mr. Davis has received numerous awards and recognition for his musical compositions. His original Christmas musical, “Great Celebration,” was produced by WQED-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1987. In 1993, Mr. Davis was commissioned by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, of the Smithsonian Institute, to arrange, conduct and record Thomas Dorsey's classic gospel song “Peace In The Valley.” This rendition was included in a 26-part radio series entitled “Wade In The Wade ... African American Sacred Music Tradition.” The series later won a Peabody Award. In 1997, this arrangement was featured in the television movie “The Ditch Digger's Daughters.” Mr. Davis has ministered both nationally and internationally.
EL SHADDAI is comprised of Anointed Directors, Musicians, Ministers of Music, Pastors, Songwriters, and Soloists from the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Each are anointed in their own right, and yet they surrender themselves as a corporate body of worshippers to take the secondary audience (the people of God) into the presence of God Almighty. They all have a heartfelt desire to blend their gifts for the up building of God’s Kingdom.

They have had the privilege of accompanying such well known Gospel artists as Tramaine Hawkins, Henry Mc Kenzie Davis, Brenda Waters, and Beverly Crawford, Vickie Winans and Karen Clark-Sheard and have shared the pulpit with CeCe Winans, James Moore and Kurt Carr. They minister locally on a frequent basis and have developed a loyal following.

For the past three years they have had the privilege of being the featured Praise and Worship team for the Daily Bread at the Annual Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. They have sung sermonic hymns for many great men and women of God such as Bishop T. D. Jakes, Dr. James Forbes, Bishop Paul Morton, Bishop G. E. Patterson, Pastor Donnie McClurkin , Bishop Don Meares, and Pastor Anita V. O’Brien to name a few.